Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 1008

"Inko Group's secretary. But whose secretary is he?" Ludwik's icy gaze swept towards the night outside the window, waiting for dawn. He was determined to make a personal trip to the Inko Tower downtown to investigate the situation! His thick eyebrows furrowed as he pondered, then he muttered, "Seeing Florence's face today, there were clear signs she's trying to mimic Whitney. I overlooked something.

Why go through such a transformation if it wasn't for someone in the Inko Tower she's aligning herself with?"

If it was unrelated, she wouldn't have bothered with the cosmetic tweaks.

And her doing so must have a purpose he's unaware of.

A fog of confusion swept through Ludwik's mind, perhaps seeing this 'mysterious person' would make everything clear?

With his eyes half-closed, he was extremely tired yet unable to sleep, his mind a tangled mess that he couldn't clear.

He just waited for dawn, which came around eight o'clock.

The man's tall, stiff figure rose, in the neonatal ward, his daughter still lay in the incubator, a tiny bundle, who had woken up once, moving her little hand slightly.

For the rest of the time, she slept quietly.

The doctor managed to feed her only five milliliters of milk.

Weighing just over four pounds, her weight seemed to have decreased even after a day's treatment.

The doctor, stationed in the ward, saw the fierce-looking Ludwik outside and dared not come out.

Ludwik's worried brows furrowed as he instructed his secretary standing by, "We're understaffed, I'll go to the Inko Tower in the city center alone, and you must stay here, not leaving for a moment! The assistant in Florence's ward must do the same. This time, I must take Florence back home by any means necessary."

"Mr. Lippert, we'll stay put with all our might."

"I'll be quick."

This was in Germinia, filled with inconveniences.

Ludwik checked his phone's map, hailed a cab, and headed straight to the Berlidon center. The CBD area was packed with skyscrapers, intermingling with Eurovoria's classical architecture, creating a unique vista.

Soon, Ludwik fixed his eyes on the tallest building among them, the Inko sign hanging high above on the building facade.

At a crosswalk, Ludwik suddenly told the driver in German, "This is fine, thank you."

Once the driver left, the tall man stood by the street, squinting his deep black eyes, surveying the crossroad.

He vividly remembered, the backdrop of Florence's accident was right here.

Reporters had caught her on camera with the towering Inko building looming in the background.

Thinking it over, why did her accident happen here?

A tragic accident in front of the Inko Tower, was she hoping to encounter that 'mysterious person' inside?

And indeed?

She must have.

Ludwik began to piece together the process of Florence creating the opportunity.

Not long after her accident, she was personally admitted to Sanctum Mary Medical by a mixed-race male secretary. In the hospital, she attempted to kill his child, thankfully he, an unexpected visitor, burst in just in time! What kind of 'mysterious person' could make Florence disregard even the child in her womb, a potential threat to him?

Lifting his gaze sternly towards the building, Ludwik speculated about the 'mysterious person's' identity, rich and powerful? Who exactly was 'he'? The answer was inside the building.

He strode towards the plaza in front of the Inko Tower.

Expecting free entry, he was surprised when two stern-looking Germinian security guards stopped him at the entrance.

Ludwik raised his cold, thick eyebrows and spoke in a gentlemanly, fluent German, "Why can't I enter?"

"Sir, you're a new face here. Do you have an employee badge?

If not, our Inko Tower has very strict security measures. Our company does not allow any outsiders to enter. All business dealings must be met with one of our secretaries coming down to receive you. Are you here for business?" The security guards spoke without emotion, blocking his way.

Despite Ludwik's towering height of 6'2", he couldn't intimidate these burly Eurovorian guards.

After a brief moment of thought, his lips slightly curled as he said, "What kind of company are you running here with security tight enough to rival the CIA?

"Sorry, sir! We're a global corporation with strict security protocols from top to bottom, dictated by our chairman. Non-company personnel are not allowed inside the Inko Tower, backed by Germinian security. Please understand and keep your distance." Quite the stance!

But in Emperor City, with Phineas at the helm of the division, it was already the most dazzling company, backed by the president of Harmonia Country no less.

One can only imagine, the global headquarters' unimaginable financial strength.

No entry for outsiders?

Most companies are open for facilitating business discussions.

Inko Group, however, opts for a closed management style.

This must be the ruler's decree.

Ludwik's interest piqued, he nonchalantly inquired, "I'm from a chip company in Harmonia Country. I understand Inko Group owns several aerospace research companies, and I'm indeed here for business.

However, I'm curious about your chairman. Who is he? Why so secretive and closed-off?

How do you manage a global company like this?"

He was actually probing.

The security guard frowned, clearly displeased, "If you're here for business, please use the business entrance. Who our chairman is isn't something you should concern yourself with. Not just you, but few in Berlidon have seen her.

If you don't believe me and wish to keep inquiring here, you might as well do your own research to see if you can find any information."

Had it been possible, he wouldn't have come here in person!

Inko Group, on Germinia's business network, had no information, let alone any news photos or interviews of the company's executives.

As for the chairman, Ludwik couldn't even begin to guess who that person might be.

But he had come with a purpose today and wouldn't give up until it was achieved.

He pulled up a photo on his phone, while his other hand discreetly slid a thick stack of cash from his trouser pocket and swiftly stuffed it into the security guard's hand as he approached.

The guard, face cold, attempted to push him away.

Ludwik gripped the security guard's hand with a firm, reassuring strength, flashing a brief, friendly smile. "Easy there! I just wanna know, who's this guy in your company? Looks familiar, huh? Just tell me his name and what he does, that's all I'm asking for." He maintained control, easing the tension between them.

And the cash he'd slipped them was nothing to scoff at.

The two guards exchanged uncertain looks, wary of drawing unwanted attention from within the company.

One guard glanced at his phone, then his expression shifted slightly, "Erik..."

He murmured in German, his voice tinged with respect.

Ludwik caught on.

So, his name's Erik, huh? An assistant, perhaps?

Usually, it's the higher-ups, like CEOS or directors, who have personal assistants. And this Erik, with his own set of skills, needing bodyguards for protection... Could this high-ranking individual possibly be a woman?